Madhya Pradesh Defends Minister in Colonel Sofiya Qureshi Remarks Case

The Madhya Pradesh government will defend before the Supreme Court its decision to deny prosecution sanction for minister Kunwar Vijay Shah over remarks about Colonel Sofiya Qureshi, citing insufficient grounds for legal action. The state's response, filed after review by legal experts, rests on a five-point defence. The government argues no private complaint was filed, Shah did not name Qureshi, and he lacked intent to insult her. It also cites Shah's three apologies and written regret, describing the episode as a human error, while contending the remarks did not disturb communal harmony. Shah, an eight-time MLA since 1990 and a prominent tribal leader from the Rajgond clan, holds significant political weight among Gond voters in a state where Scheduled Tribes comprise about 22 percent of the population. The Supreme Court sought a status report after the High Court ordered an FIR over the May 2025 video.